Twinspot goby

Care at a glance

The twinspot goby carries two large eye spots on its dorsal fins which, combined with its posture, mimic the face of a much larger fish to deter predators. It moves across the bottom in small, jerky steps, constantly sifting sand in search of tiny bottom organisms.

That is exactly what makes it difficult: in most tanks the sand fauna is eaten within a few weeks and it loses weight unnoticed. Only a large, long-established system with a deep, living sand bed and several small feedings a day gives it a real chance; keep it as a pair if you can.

Good to know

• Digger — needs fine sand
• Needs a mature, stable tank
• Hard to wean onto dry food

Related species

• Humbug damselfishDascyllus aruanus
• Lamarck’s angelfishGenicanthus lamarck
• Cinnamon clownfishAmphiprion melanopus
• Sergeant major damselAbudefduf saxatilis
• Engineer gobyPholidichthys leucotaenia
• Longhorn cowfishLactoria cornuta